People in our society tend to believe one of two great errors about human nature. The first error is not that we think too highly of man, but not highly enough. Man's dignity has been degraded unnecessarily.

The second error is not that we think man is so sinful, but not nearly sinful enough. We are all much more depraved than we let on (e.g., if our wives knew our secret thoughts, we would all be in trouble).

The paradox of man is that he is a product of both the creation and the fall. Help your men understand we have a "dual identity." The creation made us like a god, and the fall made us like a devil. We are simultaneously images of God and products of the fall. 

When we observe the animals, we notice that we are the highest order of creatures by a wide margin. Intuition tells us that human beings have dignity. Christianity teaches that mankind is God's crowning achievement, the full expression of God's creative genius, and that He has good plans for us.

Psalm 8:4-6 asks, "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" It then answers, "You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet."

Don't let your men be fooled by the world's low view of man--it's so much worse than that. In the heart of every man is the ability to revile people made in the image of God while simultaneously worshiping a four-wheeled god made of steel and leather. 

Neither let them be deceived by the world's high view of man--it's so much greater than that. Your men are God's most excellent creation, His highest achievement, and the full expression of His creative genius.

For More: Go to www.pastoringmen.com and click on "41. Man, Doctrine of" to see the Biblical Manhood series of twelve messages.

Yours for changed lives,